Trump Moves Space Command To Alabama
“This fight is far from over,” the prophetic words issued by Alabama U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville when then President Biden announced that Space Command would remain in Democrat Colorado. That decision in July 2023 overruled then former President Donald Trump's decision to place it in Republican Alabama.
The controversy over the basing decision began seven days before Trump’s first term expired, when his Air Force secretary announced Alabama would be home to Space Command, pending an environmental review. The review by the Defense Department inspector general was inconclusive and could not determine why Colorado was chosen over Alabama.
Fast forward to this afternoon when Trump announced his decision to move the multi-billion-dollar headquarters to Redstone Arsenal after all. The Air Force and other space operations had selected Huntsville as the best sites due to Redstones proximity to NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center and numerous critical space contractors.
Space Command coordinates military space operations which include satellite communications, defending government satellites from harm and some aspects of missile defense according to the independent command's website.
The battle to overturn Biden's decision began immediately as the Alabama Congressional Delegation waged a public relations campaign and lobbying effort. It was one of the top priorities of Trump ally Tuberville in the senate and Rep, Mike D. Rogers in the lower chamber.
Referring to the Alabama delegation this afternoon, Trump said, "Every one of these people would call me and lobby me," and he continued, "They got their way." Trump said Huntsville won the race for the Space Command headquarters, in part, because “they fought harder for it than anybody else.”
Trump had accused Biden of playing politics by keeping Colorado in a state that heavily supported the Democrat's election. Today the president didn't shy away from referencing his on 30-point victory over Democrat opponent Kamala Harris in last November's general election. He also referenced Colorado's use of mail-in ballots, something Alabama only allows as absentee voting. He did add those were not the reasons for his decision.
NASA employs more than 6,000 in Huntsville, Redstone employees some 35,000 employees and contractors. Space Command will add another 1,700 jobs if the decision stands.
Tuberville and Rogers kept fighting for Space Command, so Colorado's Congressional Delegation is gearing up for a similar battle with the backing of national Democrat leaders.
The Colorado delegation criticized Trump's decision and warned the relocation would harm not only the state, but also the country.
"We are united in fighting to reverse this decision," Colorado's two senators, John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet, and the state's eight House members said in a joint statement. "Bottom line — moving Space Command headquarters weakens our national security at the worst possible time. Moving Space Command sets our space defense apparatus back years, wastes billions of taxpayer dollars, and hands the advantage to the converging threats of China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea."
Political observers say the Democrat plan will be to stall the move until the Democrats can regain control of congress in next year's midterm elections. This would position them better to block the move all together.
Military experts predict it will take several years to get Space Command up and operational in Huntsville.
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